In a stacked Western Conference, there are a handful of legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. It took awhile, but the Kings finally are playing like one of them.

Two years ago, the Kings earned points in 12 of their final 14 games to slip into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed and then went 16-4 en route to the Cup. Last year, they went 7-3-2 down the stretch and then lost to the Blackhawks in the Conference Finals. This season, the Kings started slow and lost 16 of 21 games during one stretch. But now they have won eight in a row and clearly are peaking at the right time.

It may be odd to say a team that ranks 25th in goals per game (2.4) is considered one of the favorites, but the Kings have six 10-plus-goal scorers, led by Jeff Carter (24) and Anze Kopitar (20). And although Marian Gaborik, acquired at the trade deadline last week, hasn’t scored a point yet, you can bet that will change soon.

Los Angeles also ranks first in goals against at 2.0 per game — not to mention having a goalie in Jonathan Quick who won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP a few seasons ago. It all adds up to the Kings making another deep playoff run.

(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)

1. Blues (2): Ryan Miller suffered his first loss with St. Louis on Tuesday, but he’s 4-1, as stingy as the Blues hoped he would be when they acquired him.

2. Penguins (4): Became the first team this season with two 30-goal scorers as Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz reached the plateau this week.

3. Sharks (7): Somehow, the Sharks are only two points behind the Pacific Division-leading Ducks and they play them twice more down the stretch.

4. Bruins (5): The Bruins have won five games in a row and are three points behind the Penguins for the top spot in the East.

5. Ducks (1): Anaheim had five losses in the months of December and January combined. They have six losses in nine games since, including three straight at home, where they have dominated all season.

6. Kings (8): Los Angeles has a knack for heating up at the right time. The Kings have allowed just 12 goals during their eight-game winning streak.

7. Avalanche (3): Patrick Roy has to be the overwhelming favorite to win coach of the year: Colorado is five points behind the Blues for the best record in the league.

8. Blackhawks (6): It’s been three months since the Blackhawks won three games in a row, which they’ll attempt to do Wednesday against the Avalanche.

9. Maple Leafs (12): It was a happy homecoming for head coach Randy Carlyle, who beat the Ducks — the team he coached to the 2007 Stanley Cup — by a 3-1 final Monday in Anaheim.

10. Flyers (11): The power play ranks ninth in the league, but hasn’t been great lately, including an 0-for-6 in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Devils.

11. Canadiens (10): Carey Price has not played since prior to the Olympics, and the Canadiens have zero regulation wins in seven games since. Think they need him back for the postseason?

12. Wild (9): Blew a 3-0 lead to the Oilers Tuesday in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss. Those are the kinds of games playoff teams don’t lose.

13. Stars (17): Playing less than 24 hour after Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench Monday in a game that was eventually postponed, the Stars earned an emotional 3-2 overtime win against the Blues on Tuesday.

15. Rangers (14): Martin St. Louis has one point in three games with the Rangers, who have lost four of six. The Blueshirts play six road games in their next seven, and it’s no time for a letdown.

16. Lightning (13): Five losses in a row for Tampa Bay, even with Steven Stamkos back in the lineup. He’s been held pointless in three games since his return from a broken leg.

17. Coyotes (19): Radim Vrbata had the shootout winner Monday and figured in all three goals Tuesday for the Coyotes, who are one point behind the Stars for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

18. Devils (20): New Jersey has scored 28 goals in seven games, and Martin Brodeur — who wanted to play more — is 4-0 in the month of March. Saves like this will help …

19. Red Wings (18): Adding insult to injury (literally), Detroit lost a couple of big games this week to the Rangers and Blue Jackets, and it seems as if Pavel Datsyuk may be out for the season.

20. Jets (16): Picked a bad time to slump, but perhaps a three-game homestand can get the Jets back in order.

21. Senators (23): Ottawa is in a logjam of teams trying to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but allowing more than three goals a game won’t help their cause.

22. Capitals (21): Those back-to-back losses in a home-and-home with the Penguins really hurt. And where has Alex Ovechkin (one goal in five games) been?

23. Predators (25): Nashville has eight goals in two games after having eight in the prior six. It’ll be tough to mount a playoff charge, but the Preds are trying.

24. Hurricanes (24): Huge win against the Rangers Tuesday after blowing it late in the third period when the teams met Saturday.

25. Canucks (22): Eddie Lack has allowed 12 goals in three games. Keep in mind, he’s the future of the team after they traded Corey Schneider and Roberto Luongo.

26. Islanders (27): That was an impressive display in Vancouver Monday, tying a franchise record with seven goals in the third period in a 7-4 win. Guess they don’t need Thomas Vanek or John Tavares after all.

27. Flames (26): Rookie goalie Joni Ortio has gotten the bulk of the work recently, posting a .907 save percentage for the Flames, who are playing out the string.

28. Oilers (29): Look at the Oilers! With points in 10 of 13 games, now’s the time they get fans’ hopes up for next year, and the year after that, and the year after that …

29. Panthers (28): The Roberto Luongo trade started out great for Florida, earning a shutout in his first start.

30. Sabres (30): Traded a lot of their roster last week and have one win in five games. Hope they can put those drafts picks to good use.